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Is chocolate toothpaste the new fluoride?

Posted on May 21st 2007 7:09AM by Rigel Celeste

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

Chocolate toothpaste... Ugh, I feel a little nauseated just thinking about it. But not to worry, chocolate flavoring isn't destined for toothpaste, but chocolate extract instead. Arman Sadeghpour, from Tulane University, has found that an extract from cocoa powder may be an effective alternative to fluoride in toothpaste.

The extract is a white powder, and it works by hardening tooth enamel thereby making the teeth better able to resist cavities. More testing is needed before it can be used in humans, but if all goes well in 2-4 years it may be on shelves hidden in your favorite brand of toothpaste.

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18 Comment

Tags: brush, chocolate, cocoa, enamel, extract, flouride, fluoride, teeth, tooth, toothpaste

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Douglas Anderson 5-24-2007 @ 8:37PM

It's here now! And so is Tangerine Burst! Made in Egypt and sold in Africa. Compliments of Colgate.

victoria 5-26-2007 @ 12:56AM

yum! i wouldnt mind chocolate toothpaste. i would try it, if it was chocolate flavored.

Rick 5-24-2007 @ 10:43PM

Next we will have Garlic and Jalapeno heartburn relief, Poison Oak rash cream and Tijuana bottled water as an anti-diahreal.

Steph 5-24-2007 @ 10:55PM

Chocolate flavored toothpaste? ugh.......but iam sure the lil kiddies would love it.......maybe make it if you all must white chocolate so everytime i spread it on a toothbrush it doesn't make me gag....... becuz chocolate colored would remind me of my colon ugh.........

Holly 5-24-2007 @ 11:14PM

Chocolate toothpaste sounds delicious.
I must comment though on some of the comments:
I really have to feel sadness for the thought process of some of the people who comment.
So sarcastic, jaded and just foul.
Very sad.

Cuckoo4tofu 5-24-2007 @ 11:40PM

This is interesting. I just hope that their "testing" doesn't involve animals.

pam 5-27-2007 @ 12:49AM

yuuuummmm.... wonder if they would make dark chocolate toothpaste???double yum

greg 5-25-2007 @ 12:14AM

so cuckoo4tofu, whats wrong with brushing a rats teeth 100 times a day for a year with chocolate flavored toothpaste? surely mr. rat doesnt mind

Crabby McSlacker 5-25-2007 @ 12:15AM

Hmm. I like chocolate.

I don't much like the flavor of toothpaste.

So why does chocolate toothpaste sound so yucky? Why shouldn't it be a good idea?

It's kind of like Cheeseburger flavored ice-cream or Pina Colada flavored burritos. Some textures/flavors just don't go together.

Visit Crabby at her own rather strange health and fitness blog: http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/

Cognitogrrl 5-25-2007 @ 12:36AM

This article and some of your comments are STUPID. #1 spell it right, it's "fluoride." #2 it said it would NOT taste like chocolate, but the extract from cocoa POWDER is being tested to see if it hardens teeth to prevent cavities.

Willow 5-25-2007 @ 12:41AM

Crabby, I have to agree with you on this one. When you mentioned cheeseburger flavored ice cream and Pina Colada burritos, I couldn't help but cringe. However, I am having a hard time getting my son to brush his teeth often. He loves chocolate... Chocolate may be the new Crest... Voila, my son will probably brush his teeth with no problem, if it were chocolate flavored!! I think I would steer clear of it though! lol

damnthatsgay 5-25-2007 @ 6:06PM

You guys are retarded. Scientists are testing an extract from cocoa powder, ther ARE NOT making chocolate flavored toothpaste. That already exists.

Willow 5-25-2007 @ 1:09AM

Awww, poor Cognitogrrl must have a freaking hair across her ass. If you think it's a stupid article, why did you even bother to stop and post here? Are you an English major or something? Why do you have so much of a need (you and countless other a$$holes) to "correct" people when they misspell words? It probably wasn't wrong on purpose, it's what is known as a "typo." Let me explain that concept to you. When you're typing on the keyboard, and you accidentally press the wrong letter, instead of the correct letter. That's a "typo." It's an accident. Ya know, it sounds like your IQ is quite low, maybe close to a rooster. No wait! Roosters, I believe are a bit smarter than people like you!! As they say, ignorance is bliss! Have a wonderful evening!

Rigel 5-25-2007 @ 1:08AM

Thanks for catching that, Cognitogrrl!

George 5-25-2007 @ 1:10AM

I love chocolate. I will try chocolate toothpaste. Does anyone know when Chocolate toothpaste will be sold in the United States of America in Los Angeles,CA. and also in New York City,New York?

cuckoo4tofu 5-25-2007 @ 1:37AM

"so cuckoo4tofu, whats wrong with brushing a rats teeth 100 times a day for a year with chocolate flavored toothpaste? surely mr. rat doesnt mind"

Maybe it's not so much the toothpaste he minds as it is having his head clamped down and jaw pried open day after day until he is decapitated so "intelligent scientists" can study his rodent teeth (which are constantly growing) and apply the effects to human teeth (which are only replaced once in one's lifetime). Chocolate extractive toothpaste or not, I'm sticking with Tom's of Maine brand!

Angie 5-25-2007 @ 1:52AM

#13 (Willow)--Everyone knows what a typo is. Only the literate ones will know they've made an error and correct it. Everyone else is just stupid or lazy. 80% of the population are unable to spell or use correct grammar. They should be told of their stupidity every time :)

liz 5-25-2007 @ 2:36AM

using an extract from a plant isn't so unusual to prevent tooth decay. another caries preventing chemical found in several dental products is xylitol and it's actually a type of sugar derivative. it's interesting to see how science advances but can sometimes come full circle back to "natural" ingredients.